Method for reducing auto-correlation or cross-correlation in weak signals

ABSTRACT

The present invention discloses methods, apparatuses, and systems for eliminating auto- and cross-correlation in weak signal CDMA systems, such as GPS systems. The invention uses parallel data paths that allow standard correlation of signals in parallel with verification of the lock signal to determine whether the system has locked onto the proper signal within the scanned signal window. The invention can be made with multiple CPUs, a single CPU with dual input modes, on multiple IC chips, or as a single IC chip solution for small, low cost reception, downconversion, correlation, and verification systems.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 60/227,674, filed Aug. 24, 2000,entitled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ELIMINATING AUTO-CORRELATION ORCROSS-CORRELATION IN WEAK CDMA SIGNALS,” by Gregory B. Turetzky, et al.,which application is incorporated by reference herein.

This application is also related to the following:

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/910,092, filed on Jul. 20, 2001,entitled “APPARATUS FOR REDUCING AUTO-CORRELATION OR CROSS-CORRELATIONIN WEAK SIGNALS,” by Gregory B. Turetzky, et al.;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/910,404, filed on Jul. 20, 2001, nowU.S. Pat. No. 6,680,695, entitled “COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM THAT REDUCESAUTO-CORRELATION OR CROSS-CORRELATION IN WEAK SIGNALS,” by Gregory B.Turetzky, et al;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/910,091, filed on Jul. 20, 2001, nowU.S. Pat. No. 6,466,161, entitled “LOCATION SERVICES SYSTEM THAT REDUCESAUTO-CORRELATION OR CROSS-CORRELATION IN WEAK SIGNALS,” by Gregory B.Turetzky, et al.;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/909,717, filed on Jul. 20, 2001, nowU.S. Pat. No. 6,529,829, entitled “DEAD RECKONING SYSTEM FOR REDUCINGAUTO-CORRELATION OR CROSS-CORRELATION IN WEAK SIGNALS,” by Gregory B.Turetzky, et al.;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/909,716, filed on Jul. 20, 2001, nowU.S. Pat. No. 7,106,786, entitled “METHOD FOR REDUCING AUTO-CORRELATIONOR CROSS-CORRELATION IN WEAK SIGNALS,” by Gregory B. Turetzky, et al.;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/244,293, filed on Sep. 16, 2002, nowU.S. Pat. No. 6,707,423, entitled “LOCATION SERVICES SYSTEM THAT REDUCESAUTO-CORRELATION OR CROSS-CORRELATION IN WEAK SIGNALS,” by Gregory B.Turetzky et al.;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/712,789, filed on Nov. 12, 2003,entitled “COMMUNICATION SYSTEM THAT REDUCES AUTO-CORRELATION ORCROSS-CORRELATION IN WEAK SIGNALS,” by Gregory B. Turetzky, et al.;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/775,870, filed on Feb. 10, 2004, nowU.S. Pat. No. 7,026,986, entitled “LOCATION SERVICES SYSTEM THAT REDUCESAUTO-CORRELATION OR CROSS-CORRELATION IN WEAK SIGNALS,” by Gregory B.Turetzky, et al.; and

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/345,635, filed on Jan. 31, 2006,entitled “LOCATION SERVICES SYSTEM THAT REDUCES AUTO-CORRELATION ORCROSS-CORRELATION IN WEAK SIGNALS,” by Gregory B. Turetzky, et al.;which applications are all incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates in general to Global Positioning System(GPS) receivers, and in particular to systems, methods, and apparatusesfor reducing or eliminating auto-correlation or cross-correlation inweak Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) signals in the presence ofstrong CDMA signals.

2. Description of the Related Art

Cellular telephony, including Personal Communication System (PCS)devices, has become commonplace. The use of such devices to providevoice, data, and other services, such as Internet access, has providedmany conveniences to cellular system users. Further, other wirelesscommunications systems, such as two-way paging, trunked radio,Specialized Mobile Radio (SMR) that is used by police, fire, andparamedic departments, have also become essential for mobilecommunications.

A current thrust in the cellular and PCS arena is the integration ofGlobal Positioning System (GPS) technology into cellular telephonedevices and other wireless transceivers. For example, U.S. Pat. No.5,874,914, issued to Krasner, which is incorporated by reference herein,describes a method wherein the basestation (also known as the MobileTelephone Switching Office (MTSO)) transmits GPS satellite information,including Doppler information, to a remote unit using a cellular datalink, and computing pseudoranges to the in-view satellites withoutreceiving or using satellite ephemeris information.

This current interest in integrating GPS with cellular telephony stemsfrom a new Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requirement thatcellular telephones be locatable within 50 feet once an emergency call,such as a “911” call (also referred to as “Enhanced 911” or “E911”) isplaced by a given cellular telephone. Such position data assists police,paramedics, and other law enforcement and public service personnel, aswell as other agencies that may need or have legal rights to determinethe cellular telephone's position. Further, GPS data that is supplied tothe mobile telephone can be used by the mobile telephone user fordirections, location of other locations that the cellular user is tryingto locate, determination of relative location of the cellular user toother landmarks, directions for the cellular user via Internet maps orother GPS mapping techniques, etc. Such data can be of use for otherthan E911 calls, and would be very useful for cellular and PCSsubscribers.

The approach in Krasner, however, is limited by the number of data linksthat can be connected to a GPS-dedicated data supply warehouse. Thesystem hardware would need to be upgraded to manage the additionalrequirements of delivering GPS information to each of the cellular orPCS users that are requesting or requiring GPS data, which requirementswould be layered on top of the requirements to handle the normal voiceand data traffic being managed and delivered by the wireless system.

Krasner, however, does not discuss the problems of acquisition of a GPSsatellite signal in difficult environments, such as urban areas, orwhere the mobile receiver has a limited or completely blocked view ofthe satellites. Inherent in such difficult environments is the abilityof a sensitive receiver to acquire spurious signals in theelectromagnetic spectrum.

Some of these spurious signals emanate from the GPS satellite that themobile receiver is trying to acquire. If the mobile receiver sweepsthrough a subset of all of the possible codes, and finds a signal thatis above the noise floor the receiver will lock onto this signal.However, the receiver has no way of knowing if the signal it has chosento lock onto is the proper signal, especially in weak signalenvironments. This type of event, where the receiver locks onto aspurious signal emanating from the GPS satellite of interest, is called“auto-correlation.” Auto-correlation can also occur in a strong signalenvironment, where the signal acquired is not the proper signal.

Other spurious signals emanate from other GPS satellites that are eitherwithin the line of sight of the mobile receiver, or, because ofmulti-path conditions, is not within the line of sight of the mobilereceiver, and create the same problems as auto-correlation scenariosdescribed above. However, when the spurious signal emanates from a GPSsatellite other than the satellite of interest, the event is called“cross-correlation.”

Currently, there are no methods or devices designed to determine whetheran auto-correlation or cross-correlation event has occurred. There arealso no methods or devices designed to correct such events to ensurethat the receiver is locked onto the proper signal.

It can be seen, then, that there is a need in the art for a method todetermine whether an auto-correlation event or cross-correlation eventhas occurred. It can also be seen that there is a need in the art for amethod to correct auto-correlation or cross-correlation events to allowthe GPS receiver to lock onto the proper signal. It can also be seenthat there is a need in the art for an apparatus to determine whether anauto-correlation event or cross-correlation event has occurred. It canalso be seen that there is a need in the art for an apparatus to correctauto-correlation or cross-correlation events to allow the GPS receiverto lock onto the proper signal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To minimize the limitations in the prior art, and to minimize otherlimitations that will become apparent upon reading and understanding thepresent specification, the present invention discloses systems, methodsand apparatuses for determining if an auto-correlation orcross-correlation event has occurred. The method and apparatus alsoprovide the ability to correct the auto- or cross-correlation event toallow the GPS receiver to lock onto the proper signal.

The present invention also discloses methods and apparatuses foreliminating auto- and cross-correlation in weak signal CDMA systems,such as GPS systems. The invention uses parallel data paths that allowstandard correlation of signals in parallel with verification of thelock signal to determine whether the system has locked onto the propersignal within the scanned signal window. The invention can be made withmultiple CPUs, a single CPU with dual input modes, on multiple IC chips,or as a single IC chip solution for small, low cost reception,downconversion, correlation, and verification systems.

A method in accordance with the present invention comprises correlatingan incoming CDMA signal, located within a scanned signal window, with alocally generated signal on a first data path, verifying the incomingCDMA signal against a lock signal on a second data path, determining,using the second data path, whether the incoming CDMA signal has atleast one characteristic which differentiates the incoming CDMA signalfrom an auto-correlated or cross-correlated signal, and continuing tosearch the scanned signal window for a second incoming CDMA signal ifthe incoming CDMA signal lacks the at least one characteristic.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method todetermine whether an auto-correlation event or cross-correlation eventhas occurred. It is another object of the present invention to provide amethod to correct auto-correlation or cross-correlation events to allowthe GPS receiver to lock onto the proper signal. It is another object ofthe present invention to provide an apparatus to determine whether anauto-correlation event or cross-correlation event has occurred. It isanother object of the present invention to provide an apparatus tocorrect auto-correlation or cross-correlation events to allow the GPSreceiver to lock onto the proper signal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring now to the drawings in which like reference numbers representcorresponding parts throughout:

FIG. 1 illustrates a typical CDMA signal flow;

FIG. 2 illustrates an auto and cross correlation check in accordancewith the present invention;

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates details of the sample block of the present invention;and

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the steps used to practice thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following description of the preferred embodiment, reference ismade to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in whichis shown by way of illustration a specific embodiment in which theinvention may be practiced. It is to be understood that otherembodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention.

Overview

In CDMA signal environments, cross- and/or auto-correlation problemsoccur that need to be corrected. The present invention performs averification of the signal used for locking if the detected signal isweaker in signal strength than is expected by the receiver. If theexpected determined flocking) signal is strong, or, at least, not weak,then no verification is required. However, if, by Signal-to-Noise Ratiomeasurements, or other methods, the determined signal is found to bebelow a predetermined signal strength, then the receiver may bereceiving an improper locking signal, and thus, auto- orcross-correlation ghost signals may be the signal that the receiver islocking onto. The present invention discusses how to reduce or eliminatesuch auto and/or cross correlation problems.

FIG. 1 illustrates a typical Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) signalflow. In many systems 100, e.g., GPS receiver systems, cellulartelephone systems, etc., CDMA input signals 102 enter an RFdownconverter 104 for conversion to baseband signals. These basebandsignals are then sampled in a sampler 106 to obtain digital samples ofthe CDMA input signals 102. Typically, especially in a GPS receiversystem 100, these samples are then sent to correlator engine 108 andthen on to Central Processing Unit (CPU) 110.

The present invention allows for a separate path for the signals 112 toreach the CPU 110. The signals 112, which are the same samples that areused in the correlator engine 108, are sent directly to the CPU 110, or,optionally, through a buffer 114. Although the signals 112 can be sentdirectly to the same CPU 110 for processing, which CPU is typically anARM7, signals 112 can be sent to a separate Digital Signal Processor(DSP), or, alternatively, to a CPU 110 that incorporates the DSP andARM7 on a single integrated circuit (IC) chip. Further, the correlatorengine 108, CPU 110, and optional buffer 114 can be on a single IC chipto allow for lower power consumption, smaller packaging of the system100, etc. The RF downconverter 104 can also be integrated withcorrelator engine 108, CPU 110, sampler 106, and optional buffer 114 toprovide a single IC chip system 100 if desired. Further, for ease ofintegration, CPU 110 can accept signals 116 and 118 at different ports,or signals 116 and 118 can be sent to separate CPUs 110, e.g., signals116 can be sent to a DSP, while signals 118 can be sent to an ARM7.Other configurations having single or multiple CPUs 110 may be realizedwith the present invention. FIG. 1 is illustrative, but not exhaustive,of the possibilities of signal flow within the scope of the presentinvention.

Typically, in a communications system, the GPS receiver system 100 isco-located with another system that allows for transmission, such as acellular telephone system 120. The cellular telephone transceiver 122,typically located in a cellular handset, can transmit and receivesignals 124 on a wireless or hardwired link. Such a system 120 isembodied in the cellular telephone network, Personal CommunicationsSystem (PCS) network, or can also be embodied as a Personal DataAssistant (PDA), laptop computer, or any other device that can transmitand/or receive data via wireless or hard-wired communications links.

Such a communications system 120, when co-located with the GPS receiversystem 100, uses the GPS receiver system 100 to determine location anduse the determined location for various purposes, e.g., locationservices, determining or computing the location of the wirelesstransceiver 122, determining directions to a predetermined or desiredlocation, pinpointing the location of the wireless transceiver 122 foremergency and/or law enforcement personnel, etc.

As such, the present invention is useful in a location services system,where users wish to use their mobile GPS receiver systems 100, possiblylocated inside of a cellular telephone, to get directions, getassistance finding nearby points of interest, restaurants, or otherphysical locations that may be difficult to locate without some sort ofmapping aid, A cellular telephone or other mobile device can display,either visually or otherwise, the user's location, the user's locationon a map, a route or part of a route between the user's location and thedesired destination, or any number of things that can be used forlocation services.

Further, the present invention is also useful in a dead reckoningsystem, wherein at least one sensor, such as a gyroscope, odometer, orother sensor, provides inputs to the GPS receiver system 100 toselectively assist in computing a position of the GPS receiver system100. Such systems are typically used in automobiles that travel intoplaces where tunnels and other natural and man-made structures interferewith the receipt of GPS signals, but can also be used on or inconjunction with cellular telephones, wireless transceivers, or otherdevices.

Further, since both the wireless transceiver 122 and GPS receiver system100 are typically integrated circuits, for ease of packaging, lowerpower consumption, or other reasons, the GPS receiver system 100 and thewireless transceiver 122 can be located on a single integrated circuit,or can share circuitry between the wireless transceiver and the GPSreceiver system 100. For example, the GPS receiver system 100 can usethe Central Processing Unit (CPU) 126 of the wireless transceiver 122 toperform mathematical calculations needed to determine the position ofthe wireless transceiver 122, either instead of or in parallel with CPU110. Further, the wireless transceiver 122 can share other portions ofthe circuitry, such as a local oscillator to provide a referencefrequency 128 to the GPS receiver system 100, and the referencefrequency 128 can either be the same as or different from the referencefrequency used by the wireless transceiver 122.

The wireless transceiver 122 can accept data 130 from the GPS receiversystem 100, as well as provide data 130 to the GPS receiver system 100.Data 130 accepted by the wireless transceiver 122 includes raw GPS data,pseudoranges, or a determined position. Data 130 provided by thewireless transceiver includes ephemeris information, time information,and coarse position information.

FIG. 2 illustrates an auto and cross correlation check in accordancewith the present invention.

System 200 shows RF signal 202 entering system 200, where it isdecimated in decimate block 204. The result of decimate block 204 is thereduced bandwidth samples from RF signal 202, shown as block 206. Thesesamples 208 are typically passed to a correlator engine 108 shown inFIG. 1. The local code 212 is then correlated against the incomingsamples 208 in block 210, which are then passed to the tracker 214 suchthat system 200 can track the RF input signal 202.

Related art designs do not determine whether the tracker 214 is trackingthe carrier or desired signal, or whether tracker 214 is tracking aspurious signal, which may be a cross-correlated spur or anauto-correlated spur. The present invention provides a method andapparatus for verifying whether the tracker 214 is tracking the corrector desired signal before the signal is validated for use in navigation.

The signal strength of the signal being tracked is checked in block 216.If the signal strength is greater than a predetermined strength, e.g.,greater than 35 dB-Hz, then the system 200 knows that the signal isstrong enough that it is not a spurious signal, and the signal isvalidated in block 218, and passed to the navigation system in block220. However, if the signal is not of sufficient strength, theauto-correlation check block 222 is entered. Block 222 can be the sameblock for a cross-correlation check, or can be a different block ofcomputer code, hardware circuitry, or integration of hardware, software,firmware, or other devices and methods used to perform similar functionsto those described herein. Further, block 222 can be a thresholdSignal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) verification, or other such verification todetermine whether auto/cross correlation conditions exist. Such a checkblock can have one characteristic of the signal checked, can havemultiple characteristics to check, or can select from one or morecharacteristics to be checked, either automatically or manuallyselected, depending on the design or desires of the user.

Samples 206 are stored in memory as shown by path 224 and block 226. Ifthe samples do not comprise enough data, e.g., if there is less datathan a predetermined amount of data, block 228 will loop around untilthere is enough data in the system. As shown in FIG. 2, the system 200continues to store sample data until there is enough data to process.For example, in the GPS system, 2 msec of data is desired to performprocessing to determine whether the signal is the proper signal.

Block 230 shows processing the stored data to determine whether thesignal that has been tracked (or locked onto) in block 214 is the propersignal within the scanned signal window. In a cross-correlationsituation, the proper signal can be determined by a correlation to adifferent satellite code being stronger than the correlation to adesired (or current) satellite code. In an auto-correlation situation,the proper signal may be determined by a correlation to a differentdelay of the same satellite code being stronger than the correlation tothe locally generated code delay. Decision block 232 shows that thesystem 200 verifies that the signal is or is not the proper signal,again, via SNR verification or other methods.

The correlation methods used on the verification signal, which is on asecond path relative to the incoming signal, include computing thecorrelation between the sample data and the same prn code and localreference frequency of the tracked signal (signal that has been lockedto), computing the correlation between the sample data and a differentprn code but the same local reference frequency as the tracked signal,computing the correlation between the sample data and the same prn codeand local reference frequency that is a multiple of the prn repeatfrequency of the tracked signal, computing the correlation between thesample data and a different prn code and different local referencefrequency that is a multiple of the prn repeat frequency of the lockedsignal, and other correlations and methods. If the signal is the propersignal, the signal is verified and validated via path 234. If the signalis not the proper signal, then the tracker 214 is redirected orotherwise controlled to the proper signal, which proper signal wasdetermined in block 230.

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate an embodiment of the present invention.

System 300 shows GPS Clear/Acquisition (also known asCoarse/Acquisition) (C/A) (CDMA formatted RF signals) data 102 enteringthe downconverter 104, which downconverts the CDMA signal to basebandfor processing. The downconverter passes the signals to the decimators204, which are part of the sample block 106. These are passed to serialshift registers 302, and then each placed in parallel into twoadditional registers, parallel register 304 and shift register 306.Shift register 306 is loaded and then shifted out of the register 306,whereas parallel register 304 is loaded and read directly by the CPU110. Parallel registers 304 provide signals 116 that are delivereddirectly to the CPU (microprocessor) 116, whereas shift registers 306provide signals to the correlator engine 108. A Doppler rotator 308 isused to properly align in frequency the signals being fed into thecorrelator 108.

Local code, emanating from coder 212, is used to correlate against theincoming samples in determining the proper signal to lock onto withinthe sampled signals from sampler 106. The signals are accumulated in theaccumulator 310, and a peak detector 312 determines the signal that ispassed to the tracker, which is signal 118 shown in FIG. 1. Coder 212 isshifted in time and/or phase to assist in correlation. This shift istypically done by a separate circuit, and in the present invention, canbe done by a data path executive when the incoming signal is determinedto be an auto-correlated or cross-correlated signal.

FIG. 4 illustrates details of the sample block of the present invention.

System 400 shows the decimators 204 feeding the serial shift registers302, which each store, in parallel, their data in serial shift registers304 and 306. For clarity, parallel registers 304 and shift registers 306have been shown as parallel registers 304I and 304Q, and shift registers306I and 306Q, to indicate whether the registers contain I data or Qdata, respectively. Shift registers 306 pass their data to the Dopplerrotator 308, whereas parallel registers 304 pass their parallel data,i.e., signals 116, directly to the CPU 110. Again, CPU 110 can be thesame CPU that processes the Doppler rotated correlated signals, or aseparate CPU. Further, even if the CPUs are separate, they can beco-located on a single IC chip if desired.

Additional control lines couple the CPU 110 to the capture block(sampler) 106. Lines 402I and 402Q indicate when the CPU 110 has readthe data from associated shift registers 306I and 306Q, respectively.Further, data available status lines 404I and 404Q are set to a knownvalue, either high or low, to inform the CPU 110 that the parallelregisters 304I and/or 304Q are available for reading. Once the parallelregisters 304I and/or 304Q are read, the data available status registers404I and/or 404Q can be cleared.

Process Chart

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the steps used to, practice thepresent invention.

Block 500 illustrates correlating an incoming CDMA signal, locatedwithin a scanned signal window, with a locally generated signal on afirst data path.

Block 502 illustrates verifying the incoming CDMA signal, on a seconddata path, located within the scanned signal window, against a locksignal of the first data path.

Block 504 illustrates determining, using the second data path, whetherthe incoming CDMA signal has at least one characteristic whichdifferentiates the lock signal, or locally generated signal, from anauto-correlated or cross-correlated signal.

Block 506 illustrates continuing to search the scanned signal window fora second incoming CDMA signal if the lock signal lacks the at least onecharacteristic.

CONCLUSION

Although the description of the present invention herein describesspecific embodiments of the present invention, the scope of the presentinvention includes other embodiments of the present invention notdescribed herein.

In summary, the present invention describes systems, methods andapparatuses for reducing or eliminating the auto-correlation orcross-correlation events that occur during weak signal conditions. Thedevices in accordance with the present invention also provides theability to correct the auto- or cross-correlation event to allow the GPSreceiver to lock onto the proper signal.

A method in accordance with the present invention comprises correlatingan incoming CDMA signal, located within a scanned signal window, with alocally generated signal on a first data path; verifying the incomingCDMA signal against a lock signal on a second data path, determining,using the second data path, whether the incoming CDMA signal has atleast one characteristic which differentiates the incoming CDMA signalfrom an auto-correlated or cross-correlated signal, and continuing tosearch the scanned signal window for a second incoming CDMA signal ifthe incoming CDMA signal lacks the at least one characteristic.

The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the inventionhas been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. Itis not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to theprecise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possiblein light of the above teaching. It is intended that the scope of theinvention not be limited by this detailed description, but by the claimsappended hereto.

1. A method for reducing auto-correlation and cross-correlation in a GPSreceiver co-located with a cellular telephone, comprising: transmittingand receiving cellular telephone signals using a cellular telephonetransceiver; correlating an incoming GPS signal with a locally generatedsignal, using a first data path; verifying the incoming GPS signalagainst a lock signal using a second data path, determining, using thesecond data path, whether the incoming GPS signal has at least onecharacteristic that differentiates the incoming GPS signal from acorrelated signal selected from a group consisting of an auto-correlatedsignal and a cross-correlated signal, wherein the at least onecharacteristic is selected from a group consisting of a correlation to adifferent satellite code being stronger than the correlation to adesired satellite code, and a correlation to a different delay of theincoming GPS signal being stronger than the correlation to the firstdata path's locally generated code delay; monitoring the first datapath; and continuing to search for a second incoming GPS signal when theincoming GPS signal does not contain the at least one characteristic. 2.The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one characteristic isselected from a group that further includes a predetermined signalstrength of the incoming GPS signal.
 3. The method of claim 1, whereinthe at least one characteristic is selected from a group that furtherincludes a predetermined Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) of the incoming GPSsignal.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least onecharacteristic is at least two characteristics selected from a groupconsisting of: a predetermined signal strength of the incoming GPSsignal, a predetermined Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) of the incoming GPSsignal, and a predetermined amount of data present on the incoming GPSsignal.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the cellular transceiver andthe GPS receiver are located on a single integrated circuit.
 6. Themethod of claim 5, wherein the at least one characteristic is apredetermined signal strength of the incoming GPS signal.
 7. The methodof claim 5, wherein the at least one characteristic is a predeterminedSignal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) of the incoming GPS signal.
 8. The method ofclaim 5, wherein the at least one characteristic is selected from agroup consisting of a correlation to a different satellite code beingstronger than the correlation to a desired satellite code, and acorrelation to a different delay of the incoming GPS signal beingstronger than the correlation to the first data path's locally generatedcode delay.
 9. The method of claim 5, wherein the at least onecharacteristic is at least two characteristics selected from a groupconsisting of: a predetermined signal strength of the incoming GPSsignal, a predetermined Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) of the incoming GPSsignal, a correlation to a different satellite code being stronger thanthe correlation to a desired satellite code, and a correlation to adifferent delay of the incoming GPS signal being stronger than thecorrelation to the first data path's locally generated code delay. 10.The method of claim 9, wherein the cellular telephone transceiver andthe GPS receiver share a central processing unit.